The Ferrari LaFerrari has been out of production for years, but now a sequel is finally coming. Ferrari is now testing the new hypercar on public roads.
Patience is a virtue when it comes to Ferrari’s crème de la crème. There were three years between the end of production of the F40 and the beginning of the F50, between F50 and Enzo five years and between the Enzo and LaFerrari even nine years. It remains to be seen exactly how long there will be between the LaFerrari and its successor. The counter now stands at three years from the last Aperta, 4.5 years from the last closed LaFerrari. In any case, it is a given that there will be a sequel. In 2017, Ferrari promised that its latest top model would take ‘between three and five years’ to arrive, now we are almost four years on and here you can see: Ferrari has hit the road with it.
While the LaFerrari still looks very spectacular, if you might get a little disappointed with these spy photos, we have good news. This is simply still – largely – the carriage of the LaFerrari. The new unnamed successor lies under the skin. The fact that there are still four exhaust ends to spot is good news for those who fear that Ferrari will make its showpiece purely electric. The upcoming top Ferrari has a hybrid powertrain, just like its predecessor. However, there is little chance that a V12 will be used as the beating heart for it again. After all, Ferrari already has a combined power of 1,000 hp from the also hybrid-powered SF90 Stradale, with a biturbo V8 and three electric motors. The LaFerrari successor may kick it a bit further in terms of power, perhaps by combining the same 4.0 V8 with more powerful electric motors, but will also be back to a lonely height due to its weight, chassis and aerodynamics.
The fact that Ferrari is now testing the car does not necessarily mean that a disclosure is near. It may take until next year before we get to see the car. And who knows, it may take until 2023 before it is actually delivered. Fortunately, the past teaches us that it is all worth the wait.